System and method for controlling technical processes

ABSTRACT

A method and a system for improving a user&#39;s experience with a graphical user interface corresponding to a gaming or simulation environment on an electronic device, the interface renders multiple graphical objects and user selectable options corresponding to the graphical object. The user selects one or more selectable option, and performs a touching or a swiping operation through multiple points on the display screen. The touching or swiping operation leads to deploying of multiple resources corresponding to the selected option, at different locations on the interface. For controlling the different deployed resources, the user can swipe through different regions of the display screen. The number of resources deployed at the different locations on the screen depends on certain parameters, including the pressure applied by the user on the screen. Results of the simulation can be employed to control real technical systems, for example for food production.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for controlling technicalprocesses, for example to systems for controlling technical processesrelating to at least one of technical process simulation and technicalprocess control. Moreover, the present invention concerns methods ofcontrolling technical processes, for example to methods of controllingtechnical processes relating to at least one of technical processsimulation and technical process control. Furthermore, the presentinvention relates to software products recorded on machine-readable datastorage media, wherein the software products are executable uponcomputing hardware for implementing aforesaid methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Graphical user interfaces (GUI) for controlling complex processes areknown, for example in control rooms associated with nuclear power plant,in military defence systems and in aviation management. Such graphicaluser interfaces can be employed both to control real technicalfacilities as well as simulations of such facilities. The simulationsprovide an opportunity to investigate a potential behaviour of thefacilities, prior to applying actual control signals and commands to thefacilities, thereby providing better control of the facilities ananticipating behaviour of the facilities.

Computing devices include tablet computers such as iPads, and smartphones, including Apple's iPhone®, Google's Android® phone, and Symbian®phones. These computing devices have extremely user-friendly graphicalinterfaces, for enabling easy and quick interaction to users thereof.Most of these devices incorporate touch-sensitive screens that obtainuser's inputs and facilitate smooth user interaction. Simulationsoftware, for example conveniently implemented in a form of gamingsoftware, is employed in many of these devices for leisure purpose aswell as technical control purposes as aforementioned. An importantaspect of a gaming or simulation system is the ease with which a givenuser can enter desired inputs and interact with the user interface ofthe device on which he/she plays a game and/or executes a simulation.For devices that lack a touch-screen facility incorporated therein, theonly possible ways of interaction of the given user while playing a gameor executing a simulation on such devices, is by clicking an associatedmouse, using associated keyboard functions/keys to operate, or usingassociated joysticks. Experiences with the ‘point and click’ or‘joystick’ incorporated in many lower-grade electronic devices isincompatible and often time consuming, while playing a game or executinga technical simulation. Specifically, there are specific games ortechnical simulations where a given user/player needs to use clicking,pointing, tapping and dragging operations many times, and often atdifferent device display locations, which is hard to operate through acontemporary mouse or a contemporary joystick. In a typical gamingenvironment, where a given user needs to perform similar operations byclicking or touching on multiple points on the interface, this becomescumbersome. Even the touch-sensitive screens, provided in manyconventional electronic devices, are capable of sensing the touchingoperation only at one point at a time. Multi-touch screens are still notpopular, and they can be of great benefit in a gaming environment or asimulation environment. Some of the conventional gaming consoleapplications can be controlled through multi-touch sensitive operations,however, in strategic gaming environments, for performing certaindesired operations, they still have some drawbacks.

Therefore, considering the aforementioned problems, there exists a needfor a better and highly congenial graphical user interface (GUI) for agaming or technical simulation-and-control system, while playing a gameor executing a simulation on a computing device.

SUMMARY

The present invention seeks to provide an improved user graphicalinterface which is more convenient to employ when undertaking gamingactivities and/or executing simulations of real technical systems beforeproceeding to control operation of such technical systems.

The present invention also seeks to provide an improved method ofemploying a user graphical interface which is more convenient whenundertaking gaming activities and/or executing simulations of realtechnical systems before proceeding to control operation of suchsystems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedan electronic device as claimed in claim 1: there is provided anelectronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display screen, configured to simultaneously sensetouching operations performed at multiple points of the screen;a computing hardware operable to execute a software product, whereinexecuting the software product results in generating and rendering agraphical user interface on the display screen, the graphical userinterface being configured to facilitate user interaction; the graphicaluser interface, when rendered, presenting: one or more graphicalobjects; andone or more user selectable options, each option representing one ormore resources for performing an operation on one or more of the one ormore graphical objects; wherein

based on a user's selection of one or more of the user selectableoptions, the software product is configured to render the one or moreresources corresponding to the selected user selectable option, atmultiple locations of the interface.

The invention is of advantage in that the graphical user interface ismore convenient to employ, for example when submitting complexinstructions requiring concurrent deployment activities.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the software product is configuredto execute actions through the one or more resources, on one or moregraphical objects, based on receiving a user's execution input, afterrendering the one or more resources at multiple locations.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the software product is configuredto render the one or more resources at multiple locations, based on auser's touching operation at multiple points of the display screen, or auser's swiping operation through the multiple points, the multiplepoints corresponding to the multiple locations on the display screen.More optionally, in the electronic device, the software is configured torender the one or more resources at multiple locations when the user'stouching operation at the multiple points is performed for apre-determined time. Yet more optionally, in the electronic device, thepre-determined time is user-adjustable. More optionally, in theelectronic device, the rapidity of rendering the one or more resourcesat multiple locations is based at least on the speed of the user'stouching operation or the swiping operation on the display screen.

More optionally, in the electronic device, the number of resourcesrendered at multiple locations depends at least on the pressure appliedby the user over the display screen, during performing the touching orswiping operation. Pressure applied by a given user to a touch-screen isbeneficially determined by one or more pressure-sensitive transducersintegrated into the touch-screen. However, certain contemporarytouch-screens operate only on a binary basis, namely either there iscontact or no contact with a given area of the touch-screen. In suchtouch-screens, pressure applied by the given user can be determined byan area of neighbouring spatially contiguous sensing points on thescreen which substantially simultaneously experience a contact beingmade by the given user. Thus, progressively more spatially contiguoussensing points are substantially simultaneously in contact state asprogressively more pressure is applied due to elastic deformation ofbiological tissue of the given user's finger tips. A similar pressuresensing functionality can be achieved when the given user employs apointing device having an elastically deformable end to contact onto thetouch-screen to control a game or a simulation, or to enter commands forcontrolling a real technical facility. Optionally, the game orsimulation includes a calibration routine for a given user to perform tocalibrate pressure sensitivity of the touch-screen.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the software product and thegraphical user interface corresponds to a gaming environment. Moreoptionally, in the electronic device, the gaming system corresponds to awar-based game, the graphical user interface corresponding to abattlefield, and the one or more resources corresponding to weapons ofuse within the battlefield. For example, the gaming environment can be asimulation, prior to implementing a military operation in practice usingreal technical hardware.

Optionally, in the electronic device, there is including a database forcontinuously recording and updating the change in status of the one ormore graphical objects, the software product being coupled to thedatabase and being configured to resume the status of the one or moregraphical objects to their last updated status in the database, in caseof interruptions in the operable state of the graphical user interface.

Optionally, a plurality of electronic devices are connected to a serverthrough a network, the graphical user interface being generatedtemporally concurrently on each of the electronic devices, to facilitatea plurality of users' interaction with the graphical user interface,wherein the graphical user interfaces generated on the plurality ofelectronic devices are coordinated and synchronized through the server,and updated concurrently on the plurality of electronic devices withtime.

Optionally, the electronic device is implemented as a desktop computer,a laptop computer, an iPad, or a smart phone, including an iPhone®, anAndroid® phone or a Symbian® phone; “®” denotes registered trademarks.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of facilitating user interactions with a graphical userinterface, the graphical interface being generated and rendered on thedisplay of an electronic device, by executing a software product on acomputing hardware of the electronic device, the method comprising:

(a) rendering one or more graphical objects, and one or moreuser-selectable options corresponding to the one or more graphicalobjects on the graphical user interface, each user-selectable optionscorresponding to one or more resources to be deployed on the interface;(b) selecting one or more of the user-selectable options, and performingone of a touching operation at different points on the display, and aswiping operation through the different points of the display; and(c) deploying the one or more resource corresponding to the selecteduser-selectable option at multiple locations on the interfacesimultaneously, the multiple locations corresponding to the differentpoints where the touching operation, or through which the swipingoperation, is being performed.

Optionally, the method further comprises:

(d) deploying the one or more resources at multiple locations based atleast on detecting that the touching operation at the multiple points onthe display screen is performed for a pre-determined time.

Optionally, in the method, the rapidity of deployment of the one or moreresources at multiple locations depends on the speed of the swipingoperation or the touching operation.

Optionally, in the method, the number of resources deployed at thedifferent locations on the interface depends on the pressure applied onthe display screen during performing the touching operation or theswiping operation.

Optionally, in the method, the software product and the graphical userinterface corresponds to a gaming system. More optionally, in themethod, the gaming system corresponds to a war-based game, the graphicaluser interface corresponds to a battlefield, and the one or moreresources correspond to weapons of use within the battlefield.

Optionally, the method further comprises continuously recording andupdating the change in status of the one or more graphical objects,coupling the software product to the database, and resuming the statusof one or more graphical objects to their last updated status in thedatabase, in case of interruptions in the operations of the graphicaluser interface.

Optionally, the method further comprises:

(e) connecting a plurality of the electronic devices to a server througha network;(f) generating the graphical user interface temporally concurrently onthe displays of the different electronic devices; and(g) coordinating the plurality of graphical user interfaces through theserver, and updating them concurrently with time, to facilitate multipleusers' interaction and coordination with the graphical user interfaces.

More optionally, in the method, the graphical user intefaces correspondto a gaming system, and the method is configured to facilitate an onlinemultiplayer gaming system.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda software product recorded on a machine readable data storage medium,wherein the software product is executable on the computing hardware ofa computing device for implementing a method according to the secondaspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is providedan electronic device comprising:

a display screen;a computing hardware capable of executing a software product, whereinexecuting the software product leads to generating and rendering agraphical user interface on the display screen, the graphical userinterface being configured to facilitate easy user interaction; thegraphical user interface, when rendered, presenting:one or more graphical objects;a pointer object configured to be movable over one or more graphicalobjects, and configured to invoke a menu list containing one or moreuser selectable options as the pointer object is clicked or tapped overone or more of the graphical objects, wherein:

on selecting a user selectable option from the menu list, and performingone of a dragging of the pointer object and swiping a touch sensitiveobject over the graphical user interface, through one or more graphicalobjects, or through a portion of a specific graphical object, thesoftware product is configured keep an effect corresponding to theselected option to be continuously applied to the one or more graphicalobjects, or to the portion of the specific graphical object,respectively, thereby enabling a change in status of the one or moregraphical objects, or the portion of the specific graphical object,respectively.

Optionally, the electronic device further comprises a user inputinterface rendered over the graphical user interface, the user inputinterface being configured to obtain and interpret a user's inputcorresponding to moving the pointer object, clicking or tapping thepointer object, or swiping the touch sensitive object over the graphicaluser interface.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the graphical user interface isconfigured to apply continuously the user selectable option to theportion of the specific graphical object, or to one or one graphicalobjects, in response to a user's swiping the touch sensitive object overthe portion of the specific graphical object, or to the one or onegraphical objects, respectively.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the graphical user interface isconfigured to facilitate termination of the effect corresponding to theselected option, and facilitate disappearing of the selected option, ontermination of the dragging of the pointer object or the swiping of thetouch sensitive object.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the rapidity of application of theeffect corresponding to the selected option, over the portion of thegraphical object, or over the one or graphical objects, is dependent atleast partially on the speed of performing the dragging operation of thepointer, or the swiping operation of the display sensitive object. Moreoptionally, in the electronic device, the graphical user interface is atouch-sensitive screen, and the user interface is implemented as atactile surface of the touch-sensitive screen.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the graphical user interface isconfigured to disable the application of the effect corresponding to theselected option, to the portion of the specific graphical object, or tothe one or more graphical objects, in response to termination of thedragging of the pointer object, or the swiping of the display sensitiveobject.

Optionally, in the electronic device, the graphical user interface andthe software product correspond to a gaming system or a simulationsystem. More optionally, in the electronic device, the gaming system orsimulation system corresponds to a farming game, the graphical objectsof the graphical user interface correspond to different spatial regionsof a farming environment in which one or more crops are desired to begrown, and wherein the user selectable options in the menu listcorrespond to different farming tools.

Optionally in the electronic device, there is included a database forcontinuously recording and updating the change in status of the one ormore graphical objects, the software product being coupled to thedatabase and being configured to resume the status of the one or moregraphical objects to their last updated status in the database, in caseof interruptions in the operable state of the graphical user interface.

Optionally, a plurality of electronic devices are connected to a serverthrough a network, the graphical user interface being generatedtemporally concurrently on each of the electronic devices, to facilitatea plurality of users' interaction with the graphical user interface,wherein the graphical user interfaces generated on the plurality ofelectronic devices are coordinated through the server and updatedconcurrently on the plurality of electronic devices with time.

Optionally, the electronic device is implemented using a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, an iPad, or a smart phone, including aniPhone®, an Android® phone or a Symbian® phone; “®” denotes registeredtrademarks.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of facilitating easy user interactions with a graphical userinterface, the graphical interface being generated and rendered on thedisplay of an electronic device, by executing a software product on acomputing hardware of the electronic device, the method comprising:

(a) rendering one or graphical objects within the graphical userinterface;(b) clicking or tapping one or more graphical objects through a pointerobject, to invoke a menu list containing a set of user-selectableoptions, the user-selectable options corresponding to an effect to beapplied to a portion of a specific graphical object, or to one or moregraphical objects; and(c) selecting a specific user-selectable option, and applying the effectcorresponding to the selected option, to a portion of a specificgraphical object, or to one or more graphical object, by performing oneof a dragging operation of the pointer object and a swiping operation ofa display sensitive item, over the specific portion of the graphicalobject, or over the one or more graphical objects, respectively.

Optionally, in the method, the graphical user interface is configured tokeep the effect corresponding to the selected user-selectable optionactive, until the time the dragging operation or the swiping operationis performed, and is configured to enable disappearing of the selectedoption when the dragging or the swiping operation is terminated.

Optionally, in the method, the software product corresponds to a gamingsystem or a simulation system. More optionally, in the method, thegaming or simulation system corresponds to a farming game or farmingsimulation, the graphical objects correspond the spatial regions of afarming environment, and the user selectable options correspond todifferent farming tools.

Optionally, the method further comprises continuously recording andupdating the change in status of the one or more graphical objects,coupling the software product to the database, and resuming the statusof one or more graphical objects to their last updated status in thedatabase, in case of interruptions in the operations of the graphicaluser interface.

Optionally, the method further comprises:

(d) connecting a plurality of the electronic devices to a server througha network;(e) generating the graphical user interface temporally concurrently onthe displays of the different electronic devices; and(f) coordinating the plurality of graphical user interfaces through theserver, and updating them concurrently with time, to facilitate multipleusers' interaction and coordination with the graphical user interfaces.

Optionally, in the method, the graphical user intefaces correspond to agaming system, and the method being configured to facilitate onlinemultiplayer gaming system.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda software product recorded on a machine readable data storage medium,the software product being executable on the computing hardware of acomputing device, for implementing a method pursuant to the fifth aspectof the invention.

It will be appreciated that features of the invention are susceptible tobeing combined in various combinations without departing from the scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overview schematic illustration of a system pursuant to thepresent invention, providing a graphical user interface (GUI) forinterfacing one or more users to a facility, wherein the facilityincludes elements of gaming, simulation and/or real technical systemcontrol;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the graphical userinterface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example environment which iscontrollable using the graphical user interface of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are illustrations of user interactions with theenvironment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a network of servers and devices requiredfor implementing the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of steps implemented within the system of FIG.1;

FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are illustrations of an environment which thesystem of FIG. 1 is operable to simulate or provide a playingenvironment;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a graphical user interface (GUI)implemented pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 12 to FIG. 15 are illustrations of farming environments which aregenerated by the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 16 is an alternative network of data servers and devices forimplementing the system as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the accompanying diagrams, an underlined number is employed torepresent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or anitem to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined numberrelates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlinednumber to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied byan associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify ageneral item at which the arrow is pointing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

In overview, the present invention is concerned with an apparatus forcontrolling technical processes, wherein the technical processes includeelements of simulation and control of facilities. In FIG. 1, there isshown an apparatus 10 for providing a graphical user interface (GUI)between a given user 20, for example one or more persons, and atechnical facility 30, wherein the apparatus 10 is convenientlyimplemented using a device including computing hardware which isoperable to execute one or more software products recorded onmachine-readable data storage media. Moreover, the apparatus 10 isconveniently implemented using contemporary computing platforms, forexample computing platforms which are wireless-enabled for supportingcommunication via wireless communication networks. The technicalfacility 30 optionally includes elements of simulation, gaming and realsystem control.

An embodiment of the present invention pertains to a graphical userinterface for a gaming and/or simulation system, for facilitating easyand quick interaction of a given user while playing a game orcontrolling a simulation, and for avoiding contemporary problemsexperienced while performing touching or swiping operations on thetouch-sensitive screens of electronic devices on which the games arebeing played and/or simulations are being executed.

Gaming systems are incorporated for leisure in many electronic computingdevices, including computers, iPads, mobile phones, tablet computers andsmart phones. Many such conventional electronic devices incorporatetouch-sensitive screens for obtaining user inputs and for makingcongenial user experience with the interface. For playing games onelectronic devices, or controlling technical simulations, without atouch-sensitive screen, including many desktop and laptop computers, theuser generally interacts with and provides inputs to a gaming orsimulation system's interface through coupled input devices, such asmice, certain keys on the keypads, and joysticks. Using multipleclicking operations through a mouse is time consuming and unfavourable,for example, in cases where a same operation needs to be performed atmultiple points on the gaming or simulation interface. Even with thedevices have touch-sensitive displays, when similar operationscorresponding to the game being played, or the simulation beingexecuted, need to be performed simultaneously through multiple regionsof the interface, this becomes difficult to achieve as the conventionaltouch-sensitive screens are capable of sensing touching operations oneat a time, at a specific point. Even though multi-touch sensitivescreens are currently available, and are incorporated in electronicdevices, operations corresponding to certain games, when played,similarly corresponding to certain technical simulations, requiresimultaneous sensing and detecting of touching or swiping operationsperformed through multiple regions of the screen.

Thus, the present disclosure provides an enhanced graphical userinterface for a gaming and/or simulation system, which improves a givenuser's experience while playing a game, or executing a technicalsimulation, on an electronic device. The system and method facilitateperforming of touching and swiping operations through a multi-touchsensitive screen of the electronic device, and allows the given user toperform similar operations pertaining to the game or simulation,simultaneously, through different regions of the interface.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a graphical user interface corresponding to agame being played, or a simulation being executed, on an electronicdevice, illustrating a manner in which a user playing a strategic gameor executing a simulation performs touching or swiping operationsthrough multiple points of the interface, simultaneously, for executingsimilar operations through multiple locations on the interface. Asshown, a graphical user interface 100, corresponding to the game beingplayed or a simulation being executed, is rendered on a display screenon the electronic device. Specifically, the interface 100 is renderedand presented on the display screen, when a software productcorresponding to the game or simulation, is executed on computinghardware of the electronic device. The display screen is a multi-touchsensitive screen, capable of sensing touching or swiping operationsperformed at multiple points on the screen simultaneously. A user 108uses two of his/her fingers and performs touching operations at twodifferent locations 102 and 104, on the interface 100. The interface 100senses this operation, and the software product corresponding to thegame or simulation, executes actions pertaining to the performedtouching operation on different graphical objects of the interface 100.This is explained in more detail hereinafter with respect to an exampleof a specific gaming environment or simulation environment, inconjunction with the drawings that follow.

In FIG. 3, there is shows a snapshot of the display screen of anelectronic device, when a user plays a game, or executes a simulation,on the device, and uses the method of the present disclosure forcontrolling the gaming- or simulation-interface. As shown, an electronicdevice 200 includes a display screen 202, wherein different resources,for performing actions corresponding to the game or simulation, arerendered on a graphical element 206 of the display screen 202. For thepurpose of explaining the disclosure, the depicted gaming- orsimulation-environment corresponds to a war-based game or simulation,and the gaming environment rendered on the display screen 200corresponds to a battlefield 204. The device 200 can be any suitableelectronic device that incorporates a multi-touch sensitive screen,including an iPad, a smartphone, for example, Apple's iPhone®, anAndroid Phone®, or a Symbian Phone®, a tablet computer, a desktopcomputer or a laptop computer, and so forth. The battlefield 204 hasdifferent graphical objects, for example, a target 208, which canrepresent a castle, or a camp. An objective of the game or simulationmay be to win the castle, by attacking it through different resources A,B and C, and so forth, shown within the graphical element 206. Theresources A, B and C within the element 206 can represent weapons,including guns, cannons, arrows, bows, and so forth (namely technicalhardware), or represent different troops, armed soldiers, walkingsoldiers or horse riding soldiers, and so forth. Though only three suchresources have been shown, there can be multiple other resources forplaying the game or executing the simulation. In the strategic game orsimulation, the user selects one or more of these resources, and deploysthe selected resources at multiple locations within the battlefield 204.The selected resources are then used to perform operations forconquering the target 208. For example, the deployed resources can beoperated to attack the target 208 through the different weapons theypossess. The user can use multiple touching operations simultaneously,at different points on the display 202, to deploy the resources A, B, C,and so forth at multiple locations within the battlefield 204. Moreover,the user can also perform the swiping operation, to deploy a specificresource all through a set of points along a specific path, by swipingfingers across that path. The movement of the different deployedresource, either away from, or towards the target 208, can be controlledby pointing towards a specific deployed resource, and swiping the fingerin the desired direction. When the user touches the display screen 202to deploy a selected resource, the screen 202 detects the pressureapplied by the user at different points. The number of resourcesdeployed at different locations optionally depends on the amount ofpressure applied. Specifically, a higher pressure applied at a specificpoint results in deploying increased numbers of resources at that point,and vice versa. Moreover, the rapidity of deploying the resources atdifferent locations on the battlefield 204 depends upon the speed withwhich the user performs the touching or the swiping operation throughdifferent points. For example, if the user wishes to deploy a selectedresource along different points in a specific path, and performs aswiping operation through the path, the resources are deployed asquickly as the swiping operation through the path is performed. A rapidswiping operation results in a quicker deployment of resources, comparedto a slow swiping operation.

Moreover, in FIG. 3, there is shown the display screen of the device,when the user has selected one of the selectable options A, B and C, fordeploying resources within the battlefield of the war-based game orsimulation. Shown as an example, the user has selected the option Bcorresponding to a specific category or type of resources to be deployedin the battlefield, to operate on the target 208 thereafter. Asaforementioned, the selected resources may be troops, armed soldierspossessing specific kinds of weapons, horse riding soldiers, and soforth. Further, though only one option has been shown being selected,the user can also select multiple options to deploy different kinds ofresources in the battlefield. Eventually, after selecting the option B,the user uses two of his/her fingers to control the interface and deploythe troops at two desired points 302 and 304, as shown. Specifically,the user performs a touching operation at the points 302 and 304, eithersimultaneously, or in temporal sequence, namely one-by-one.Alternatively, a swiping operation may also be performed by initiatingfrom either of the selected points 302 and 304, through a specificdesired path, to deploy the resources all through the desired path. Inan embodiment, the resources are deployed at the selected points, at aspecific pre-determined time after the touching operation is performed.For example, in one embodiment, the resources may be deployed at aspecific point only if the user keeps his finger in touch with the pointfor a pre-determined time, which may be about 0.5 to 1 seconds. Thisfeature is adjustable, and the minimum time for which the user needs tokeep his fingers in contact with the screen, for deploying theresources, can be customized based on the user's desire, before playingthe game or executing the simulation. Further, this avoids the caseswhere the resources may be deployed unintentionally or undesirably.

A specific deployed resource is released for action, for example, toattack the target 208, based on detection of certain conditions. Thismay include, for example, the user still keeping his/her finger at adesired point, for about 1 to 2 seconds after the resource has beenalready deployed at that point. In another case, an execution option maybe separately rendered on the display screen, and the user needs toprovide an execution command through the option, after the resources aredeployed. Moreover, the multi-touch operations performed through thedifferent fingers act independently, and the display screen isconfigured to sense and interpret the swiping or touching operationsperformed through these fingers independently. Specifically, as anexample, when one finger is touched or swiped through specific points onthe screen, one set of resources may be deployed over one set oflocations corresponding to those points, and subsequently, when anotherfinger is touched or swiped through a different set of points, a secondset of resources may be subsequently deployed over those points too. Thetwo sets of resources may be same or different, depending on the gamesettings, which are user adjustable, and can be customized beforeplaying the game or executing the simulation Furthermore, asaforementioned, the display screen is also capable of sensing touchingor swiping operations performed at different points simultaneously, anddeploy the resources at different points together. In an embodiment, thenumber of resources deployed at different points, may be one eachcorresponding to detecting of a touching operation performed at thatpoint. Alternatively, a constant number of resources per unit time maybe deployed at a specific point, or over a set of points, as long as atouching or a swiping operation is performed over those points. Inanother embodiment, as aforementioned, the number of resources deployedis a function of the pressure applied by the user while performing thetouching or swiping operation. Specifically, a higher pressure appliedat a specific point optionally results in deploying more number ofresources at that point, and vice versa.

Referring next to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the display screen of theelectronic device, where the resources corresponding to the selectedoption B, are shown deployed at multiple locations on the displayscreen. As shown, a set of resources 410 are deployed at one set oflocations on the screen 202, and these correspond to multiple touchingoperations performed earlier around a point 302, shown in FIG. 4. Todeploy the resources 410, the user optionally performs a swipingoperation through a path covering these points. Moreover, another set ofresources 420 are shown deployed on the other side of the target 208.These resources are rendered when the touching operations initiatingwith a point 304, see FIG. 4, is performed by the user, through anotherfinger. Similarly, a touching or swiping operation is optionallyperformed at many other points on the display screen 202, to deploy theresources at other desirable points.

In FIG. 6, there is shown an illustration of an exemplary environmentfor implementing the method and apparatus in accordance with the presentdisclosure. A plurality of electronic devices 502, 504, 506 and 508 areshown, through which a user can connect to one of different data servers510 and 540, for example game servers and/or simulation servers, throughone of a multiple networks represented by 550, 560 and 570. Theelectronic devices 502, 504, 506 or 508, can be any suitable electronicdevices having a computing hardware capable of supporting and executinga software product corresponding to a gaming and/or a simulation system.Typical examples of the illustrated electronic devices may include adesktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phoneincluding the popularly known iPhones®, Android Phone®, an iPad, and soforth. Furthermore, all these electronic devices have one or moremulti-touch sensitive screens for sensing and obtaining a user's inputthrough touching or swiping operations performed at multiple points ofthe one or more display screens. Moreover, the different electronicdevices 502, 504, 506 and 508, are mutually connected to each otherthrough either of the servers 510 and 540, through suitablecommunication networks. The networks 550, 560 and 570, and so forth, maybe Wireless networks, such as a Wireless Local area network (WLAN),Local area networks (LAN), cellular networks, for example, 2G network,3G network, and so forth. Moreover, any of the electronic devices 504,506 and 508 may also use its own Bluetooth network and may be capable ofconnecting to a Bluetooth server, to synchronize with the otherelectronic devices; “Bluetooth” is a registered trademark. The shownexemplary environment supports multiplayer gaming too, by facilitatingmultiple users to be online through different devices, connectingthrough a suitable network, and synchronizing with each other. Moreover,multiple databases, as shown by modules 520, 530, and so forth, arecoupled to different servers, and information related to the gamingenvironment is continuously stored in these databases, when thedifferent users are online for multiplayer gaming.

For facilitating single-player gaming or single-user simulation, a userlogs on through any of the electronic devices 502, 504, 506 or 508, andconnects to one of the gaming or simulation servers 510 or 540, througha suitable network, for example via the Internet and/or a wirelesscommunication network. As the user logs on, and executes the gaming orsimulation software on the computing hardware of the specific devicethat he/she utilizes, for example, the device 502, a graphical userinterface corresponding to the game is generated, and is rendered on thedisplay screen of the device 502. The graphical user interface presentsdifferent graphical objects pertaining to the game or simulation, on thedisplay screen of the device 502. The graphical objects may berepresented by different blocks/segments of the graphical userinterface, on which different operations corresponding to the game beingplayed or simulation being executed, can be performed. For example, in acase where the game is a war-based game or the simulation relates totechnical military hardware such as guns, bombs and such like, suchblocks/segments may represent one or more targets that need to beconquered, such as the target 208 shown earlier in FIG. 3. Moreover, oneor more graphical elements, representing a set of user selectableoptions for performing actions on the graphical objects, are alsorendered on the interface of the device 502. Such elements have beenexplained in detail earlier, in conjunction with the previous drawingsof the disclosure, which pertain to a war-based game or simulation.Moreover, a point object (cursor) movable over the different graphicalobjects appears on the graphical user interface, for controlling thegaming or simulation operations. The pointer object is controllable byperforming touching, swiping or tapping operations on the display screenof the device 502. Moreover, other input devices, including a mouse, ajoystick or a set of keyboard buttons, may be coupled to the device 502(though not shown), for facilitating provision of user inputs. Thetouching operation on the display screen can be performed through use ofa suitable touch-sensitive object, including fingers, a pen, a pencil, apointing organ, and so forth.

Another database 580, coupled to the gaming or simulation server 510,serves as a back-end database for the gaming or simulation server 510.As the user of the device 502 starts playing the game, or executing asimulation, typical actions and gestures performed by the user, arerecorded in the back-end server 580. Specifically, such actions areinterpreted through the gaming or simulation server 510, and are sent asmessages to the back-end server 580, which eventually maintains a logof, and a backup for the played game or executed simulation. Suchmessages can be in the form of data packages sent over an Internetconnection through which the device 502 is connected to the server 510,or sent over any other wireless or wired network connecting the device502 to the server 510, as aforementioned. Typical elements of suchmessages for maintaining a backup for the game or simulation may includea header, a payload and a checksum. The checksum can be a function ofthe payload, or it may be a unique user identifier, such as a usernameor similar. An advantage arising from including the checksum in theback-end maintaining messages, is a possibility of avoiding potentialfrauds while playing the game, or avoiding third-party corruption of asimulation which could adversely influence results generated by thesimulation. Those in the art will understand that an appropriatechecksum function or a checksum algorithm may be applied to thecollected digital data, while the game is being played, or simulationbeing executed, to obtain the checksum. Further, the checksumcorresponding to a specific data can be recomputed at any point of time,and compared to the stored checksum, to avoid possible frauds. Theback-end messages received by the server 510 are also sent to the otherdatabases 520 and 530 of the server 510. In these databases 520, 530,these back-end messages are used to maintain a continuous logic thatrepresents the status of the game or simulation, for example, the exactscore of the player updated with time, and a stage of the game that theplayer has already reached, or results of the simulation such as yield,integrity of a structure and similar. With a continuous receipt of theback-end messages by the databases 520 and 530, a regular updating ofthe game status is undertaken within these server databases 520 and 530,eventually, with time. This ensures facilitating the resumption of thegame or simulation to its last status, in cases where the device 510unexpectedly shuts down, the device 510 is unexpectedly hindered in itscommunication or the user changes the gaming or simulation terminal, orhe/she intentionally quits playing or executing the simulation for acertain period, and logs in at some other time, such a possibility ofresumption assists to enhance user satisfaction with the graphical userinterface.

Though only two servers 510 and 540 have been shown, there can bemultiple gaming or simulation servers coordinating with, and connectedto each other, for implementing the gaming and/or simulation environmentin accordance with the present disclosure. Moreover, the environment asshown in FIG. 6 is capable of implementing a thin client game orsimulation, namely written in a computer program that is partiallyindependent in its computational roles, wherein a part of the gaming- orsimulation-logic may be stored in any of the servers 510 and 540, and apart of it may be stored in the gaming or simulation terminal. Thedepicted environment also supports a thick client game or simulation,namely written in a solely independent computer, wherein the entiregaming or simulation logic may be stored in the gaming terminal.Furthermore, the game or simulation is optionally completely web-basedtoo, wherein most of the gaming or simulation logic may be stored in anyof the servers 510 or 540. The gaming or simulation softwarecorresponding to the game or simulation being played or executedrespectively, can be optionally written in any programming language.

Although, the gaming or simulation system implementable through theillustrated gaming or simulation environment, has been described for thecase when a single user logs on to any of the electronic devices 502,504, 506 or 508, the same gaming or simulation environment is capable ofsupporting multi-participant gaming or simulation, wherein differentusers may log on through different electronic devices, and synchronizewith each other by connecting concurrently through any of the commongaming or simulation servers 510 and 540, through suitable networks asaforementioned, and share a common graphical user interface representingthe ongoing game or simulation. In such embodiments, the graphical userinterface rendered on the display screens of the different electronicdevices, is regularly updated, concurrently, through the logic datastored in the databases 520 and 530 of the gaming or simulation servers,at the back-end.

In FIG. 7, there is shown a method of facilitating user interactionswith a graphical user interface (GUI), while playing a game or executinga simulation. The method is elucidated in conjunction with a typicalexample of a war-based game or simulation, described earlier through theprevious figures of the disclosure. However, the method can begeneralized and implemented on other gaming or simulation environmentsalso, and is not intended to limiting the scope of the presentdisclosure. At a step 604, the method includes a step of executing asoftware product on computing hardware of an electronic device. Theelectronic device can be any appropriate device incorporating amulti-touch sensitive screen, examples of which have been set forthearlier. The software product corresponds to a gaming or simulationsystem, for facilitating playing of a game or executing a technicalsimulation on the electronic device. At a step 608, as the softwareproduct is executed, the method includes generating and rendering on agraphical user interface a representation of the gaming or simulationenvironment on the display screen of the electronic device. At a step612, the method includes presenting via the graphical user interfacedifferent graphical objects, a set of user selectable options forcontrolling the gaming or simulation environment, and a pointer forperforming touching or swiping operations through different points onthe interface. For example, as aforementioned, in a war-based game orsimulation, the graphical objects may correspond to a castle to beconquered, a camp to be destroyed, and so forth, and the gaming orsimulation environment may represent a battlefield. The user selectableoptions may correspond to different resources that can be deployed overdifferent portions of the interface, to perform operations on thegraphical objects, for example for scoring points or otherwisedetermining their technical characteristics. Specifically, the resourcesmay be different kinds of troops, horse riding soldiers, armed soldierspossessing versatility of weapons, including guns, bombs, cannons, bows,arrows, and so forth. At a step 616, the method includes the userselecting one or more selectable options corresponding to the differentkinds of resources that he/she wants to deploy within the gaming orsimulation environment. Proceeding further, after selecting and enablingone of the selectable options, at a step 620, the method includesdeploying the corresponding resources, the user performs touching orswiping operations on multiple points of the interface, depending on thelocations where he/she wishes to deploy them. At step a 624, theresources are deployed and appear on the gaming or simulation interface.In an embodiment, the nature of deployment of the different resourcesmay depend on different parameters. For example, the number of resourcesdeployed at a specific point, depends on the pressure applied by theuser on the display screen, while performing the touching operation atthat point. Moreover, if the user wishes to deploy resources alongmultiple points constituting a specific path, and performs a swipingoperation along that path, the rapidity with which the resources aredeployed depends on the speed with which the user performs the swipingoperation along the path. In another embodiment, a constant number ofresources per unit time can be deployed at each point where a touchingoperation is being performed. The nature of deployment of resources isuser adjustable, and can be customized, based on the user's priority,before playing the game.

At a step 628, the method includes checking whether or not otherresources are desired to be deployed, before executing actions throughthe resources. If “yes”, the method includes returning to the step 616,selecting the selectable options corresponding to the resource, andperforming the touching or swiping operations through the desired pointsagain. Alternatively, going further, at a step 632, the method includesreleasing the deployed resources for action, within the gaming orsimulation environment. For example, in a war-based game or simulation,the deployed troops/armed soldiers are released for operating on aspecific target, to attack it from different points where they aredeployed. In an embodiment, the releasing of the deployed resources isautomated, and occurs when the user keeps his/her fingers on a specificresource for a pre-determined time after deploying it. For example, thistime may be about 1 to 2 seconds of touching operation after theresource is already deployed. The display screen is configured to sensethis pre-determined time, and the software product executes actionpertaining to the deployed resource, when this occurs. In anotherembodiment, releasing the different resources may require a manual userinput. Specifically, for example, a triggering option (like a “go” or“fire” option) may be rendered after deploying the resources, and theresources may not be released until the user manually initiates theoption. At a step 636, after the actions have been performed by thedeployed resources, the graphical user interface is updated and areformed interface representing the latest status of the gaming- orsimulation-environment, renders on the display screen.

The method and system of the present disclosure, for improvinginteraction of a user with a graphical user interface corresponding to agame and/or simulation, provides substantial benefits as the userperforms different operations in a gaming or simulation environment.Similar operations, when desired to be performed by a user, throughdifferent locations on the gaming or simulation interface, can be easilyexecuted by touching or swiping through multiple points of the displayscreen simultaneously. Hence, the user's experience with the gaming orsimulation interface is much more comfortable.

Although the present disclosure has been described comprehensively,through an exemplary embodiment where it is applicable in a gamingand/or simulation environment, and specifically through the example of awar-based game or simulation, the disclosure also finds it applicationsin other gaming, control and simulation environments, and, generally,may be applicable to other graphical user interfaces, not pertaining toa gaming or simulation system also. In certain applications, the userinterface of the disclosed embodiment can be used for a virtual controlof any type of game, technical system or simulation. Certain aspects ofthe disclosed embodiments are also applicable to perform otheroperations, including building arcades and solving puzzle games.Further, the congenial user interface may also be implemented withinother types of games, for example, adventurous, role playing andshooting games, construction and management simulation games, and soforth. For example, the congenial user interface can be used in computerterminals employed at financial exchanges, for example in Wall Street inNew York and the Stock Exchange in London, where traders need to controlmultiple transactions simultaneously when executing a financialtransaction, for example a synthetic credit default swap or a trading inderivative financial products.

Further embodiments of the present invention will now be describedbelow. The present disclosure pertains to a graphical user interface(GUI) for a gaming or simulation system, as aforementioned, forfacilitating easy and quick interaction of a user while playing the gameor executing the simulation, and for avoiding the cumbersome operationsnormally experienced while using a mouse or a joystick when a game orsimulation is played or executed respectively on an electronic device.

Gaming and simulation systems are incorporated for leisure in manyelectronic devices, including computers, iPads, mobile phones, tabletcomputers and smart phones. While playing a game, or executing asimulation, on the computing devices without a touch-screen facility,including many conventionally available desktop and laptop computers,the major mode of interaction of a user with the gaming or simulationsystem interface is through devices like mouse, certain keys on thekeypad, and the joysticks coupled to the computing device. In many gamesor technical simulations, the user often desires to obtain quickapplication of certain operations, for which he/she needs to use theclicking or tapping operation multiple times, and at different spots ofthe interface, which often takes time. Most of the smart phones andtablet computers have now incorporated touch screen displays, andplaying games on these devices is comparatively easier. However, whileinteracting with the touch-sensitive screen acting as tactile surfacefor the graphical user interface corresponding to a game, multipleclicking or tapping operations at a single or different places maydeteriorate the screen. Moreover, the screen often gets degenerated inlong run, producing scratches and dirt spots on it, as a device is usedtoo often for playing games, which is often undesirable. Furthermore,certain operations require consistent clicking and tapping at differentlocations on the graphical user interface, which takes time to enablethe operations.

In FIG. 8, there is depicted the graphical user interface correspondingto a farming game or farming simulation, illustrating how the differentrelevant operations are conventionally performed, and the problems facedby a user/player, while performing these operations. The simulation isbeneficially employed in respect of Africa as a technical assistance forfarmers coping with agriculture in harsh environmental conditions, forexample exacerbated by anthropogenically-forced climate change believedto be caused by anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide emissions into the Earth'satmosphere, causing an increase of atmospheric Carbon Dioxideconcentration of circa 3 p.p.m./year, in respect of a contemporaryCarbon Dioxide concentration in atmosphere of around 400 p.p.m.Increased Carbon Dioxide concentrations are believed to be causingacidification of World oceans, namely adversely influencing majorsources for aquatic foods, already stressed by radioactive leaks fromFukushima, Japan, namely the worst industrial accident in human history.

In FIG. 8, there is a farming field 1100, and multiple characters 1106which control the operations on the field 1100. The characters 1106 arecontrolled by the user/player, and are moved and allowed to performdifferent operations within the field 1100. A score card is shown in thetop left corner of the graphical interface, and different houses 1102are shown, where the characters 1106 can hide. The game or simulation isabout growing different crops/fruits in different suitable parts of thefield 1100, for example as a function of future weather predictionspertaining to Africa, for example as determined from analyzing data frommeteorological satellites. An example situation is now to be described:the character 1106 desires to grow something in a specific region of thefield 1100. Referring next to FIG. 9, the user selects a graphicalobject 1200 corresponding to the location where he/she wishes to grow aspecific crop. The selection is made by tapping the object 1200 throughthe mouse, or by touching the interface, if the interface istouch-sensitive. As the user touches the object 1200, a menu listappears, containing different selectable options corresponding todifferent crops that can be grown in that area, for example, raspberries1206, blueberries 1204, strawberries 1208, and so forth, as shown.Suppose the user has decided to grow blueberries 1204 in one portion,and raspberries 1206 in another region of the field. For this the userselects the relevant options and selects the corresponding regions wherehe/she wishes to grow them. Continuing further, the updated field 1100of FIG. 8 is shown now in FIG. 10, where blueberries have been showngrown in a region 1300, and the raspberries have been shown grown alongthe region 1302. A major problem here arises when the farming field issubstantially large, and different crops are required to be grown indifferent regions of the farming field. Moreover, a specific crop may bedesired to be grown in different regions of the field, lying proximal toeach other, or in abutment. For enabling this, the user needs to selecteach of those regions individually, through multiple clicking/tappingoperations through the mouse, or by pointing the finger or a touchsensitive object like fingers, on different regions, in case where thescreen is a touch-sensitive screen. In both the cases, the operationconsumes a lot of time, and specifically, when the operation isperformed on a touch-screen through fingers, it may deteriorate thescreen eventually.

The present disclosure provides an efficient and user friendly graphicaluser interface (GUI) for a gaming- or simulation-system like that shownin FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, an interface that facilitates easy and quickoperations by dragging a pointer object or by performing a swipingaction over different graphical objects of the interface.

Specifically, the present disclosure is related to performing a swipingoperation on the graphical user interface of a gaming- and/orsimulation-system, while controlling or facilitating operations on theinterface. In FIG. 11, there is illustrated the swiping operation thatcan be performed on the graphical user interface of a gaming orsimulation system, for controlling operations during playing a game orexecuting a simulation. As shown, for performing the swiping operationof the present disclosure, a finger 1408 of the user is initially placedat a desired point 1402, and moved along a desired path 1406, until adesired destination point 1404 in reached, in the normal fashion as itis done to operate menus and handle other applications in electronicdevices incorporating touch-sensitive screens 1400.

Moreover, instead of using fingers, the swiping operation can also beperformed through a mouse, by pointing and tapping the mouse initiallyat the point 1402, dragging the pointer on the screen along the desiredpath 1406, through the mouse, and finally releasing the mouse at thefinal position 1404. Further, any other display sensitive device or anorgan, for example, a pen or a pointed device, can be used on the screenfor performing the swiping operation. Connecting this operation and itsadvantages applicable on the typical farming environment depicted inFIG. 8 to FIG. 10, suppose a user wishes to grow raspberries all along awide region represented by the path 1406 in FIG. 11, on different blockson the farming field. Then, the user just needs to select the raspberryoption that pops up, by pointing on any point along the path 1406, andswipe his/her fingers all along the path 1406. This operation will leadto easy and quicker growing of the raspberries along the entire path1406.

In FIG. 12 to FIG. 15, there is shown the view of the farming fieldshown earlier in FIG. 8, and the figures illustrate the advantages ofthe swiping feature supported by the graphical user interface of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 12, a view of a farm field 1500 isillustrated, and the object of the game or simulation is to score pointsor acquire credits by producing different products along differentregions of the field 1500. Growing different crops/products, orperforming different operations like harvesting or watering of differentsections of the field 1500, carry different points or credits to bescored by the user. The field 1500 has different segments/blocks thatcan be modified by the user to score points or credits. Thesesegments/blocks are represented by the different graphical objects of agraphical user interface which presents the gaming environment or thefarm field 1500 on the display screen of an electronic device on whichthe game is being played, or the simulation is being executed. Referringnext to FIG. 13, for growing a specific product/crop, the user has toclick or tap through the mouse, or touch with his finger, or through adisplay sensitive object (in case where the screen of the electronicdevice is touch-sensitive), at a specific desired position, for example,the one represented by the block 1602, as shown. As the user touches theblock 1602, an item specific menu (ISM) corresponding to the block 1602appears on the graphical user interface. Different blocks may havedifferent item specific menus, corresponding to the possiblecrops/products that can be grown over them. As shown, the ISM menucorresponding to block 1602 shows different user selectable options likeA, B, C, D and E, which correspond to different crops that can be grownin the field. Each selectable option corresponds to a specific tool forgrowing a different kind of crop/product, for example, maize, corn,carrots, wheat and rice. The embodiment shown in the figures anddescribed herein, is a mere example, and other embodiments incorporatingobvious variations may also be possible, thus, not limiting the scope ofthe present disclosure. For example, there may be other different kindof tools present in the ISM menu, depending on the block/segment of thefield clicked, tapped or selected. Specifically, if the selected block1602 is already cultivated, then some of the selectable optionsappearing in the ISM menu may correspond to pesticide spray, harvesting,pouring water, and so forth. Referring next to FIG. 14, if the userdecides to cultivate rice, for example, then he/she selects a suitablecorresponding option from the ISM menu, and swipes his/her fingers allover the different blocks/segments of the field, wherever he/she desiresto grow the rice. Eventually, as shown, the cultivated rice appears allover the region 1700 of the farm field, where the user has swiped hisfingers, or dragged the mouse. As a further example to illustrate theapplication of swiping motion to other operations, if the user nowwishes to harvest the grown rice in certain areas of the region 1700,then he/she taps, clicks or touches the region 1700, and one of thetools appears in another popping ISM menu, for sickle operation, asshown by the tool 1702. Continuing further in conjunction with FIG. 15,the user points his/her finger over the sickle tool, and swipes thefinger over regions of the field where he/she wants to harvest the grownrice. Eventually, as shown, the user gets successful in harvesting andcollecting rice from areas 1802, and has intentionally left the otherareas free from being harvested.

Emphasizing on the advantages of the application of the swiping featurein the graphical user interface of a gaming system, as compared to thesolutions as illustrated before through FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, all suchoperations like harvesting or cultivating in a farm field, for example,are easily done through the extremely quick and easily operable swipingaction, which just takes a fraction of a second and avoids multipleclicking or tapping at different points on the interface, as was done inprior-art gaming or simulation systems. This eliminates any effects likedeterioration of the display screen if the screen is touch sensitive, oravoids any complexities in performing different operations, irrespectiveof how big the farm field may be.

In FIG. 16, there is shown an exemplary environment for implementing themethod and system in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure. As shown, different electronic devices 1902, 1904, 1906 and1908 are depicted, through which a user can connect to one of thedifferent gaming or simulation servers 1910 and 1940, through one of themultiple networks represented by 1950, 1960 and 1970. The electronicdevices 1902, 1904, 1906 or 1908, can be any suitable electronic deviceshaving a computing hardware capable of supporting and executing asoftware product corresponding to a gaming and/or simulation system.Typical examples of the illustrated electronic devices may include adesktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phoneincluding the predominantly known iPhones®, Android Phone® and so forth,an iPad, and so forth. Moreover, any of the electronic devices can havethe touch-sensitive screen for obtaining user inputs through a touchingoperation, and some of them may also be coupled to, and operable throughconventional devices like a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, and so forth.Further, the different electronic devices 1902, 1904, 1906 and 1908, arecommonly connected to each other through the servers 1910 and 1940,through suitable networks. The networks 1950, 1960 and 1970, and soforth, may be Wireless networks, for example a Wireless Local areanetwork (WLAN), Local area networks, cellular networks, for example, 2Gnetwork, 3G network, and so forth. Furthermore, any of the electronicdevices may also use its own Bluetooth network and Bluetooth server, toconnect and synchronize with the other electronic devices; “Bluetooth”is a registered trademark. The exemplary environment facilitatesmultiple users to be online at the same time, and synchronize with eachother, to enable multiplayer gaming. Additionally, multiple databases1920, 1930, corresponding to the different servers, as illustrated,allow the different servers to store information relevant to the gamingor simulation environment, when the different users are online formultiuser gaming and/or simulation.

For a user player gaming or executing simulations, the user logs onthrough any of the electronic devices 1902, 1904, 1906 or 1908, andconnects to one of the gaming or simulation servers 1910 or 1940,through a suitable network. As the user logs on, and executes the gamingor simulation software on the computing hardware of a specific device,for example, the device 1902, a graphical user interface correspondingto the game or simulation is generated and rendered on the displayscreen of the device 1902. The graphical user interface presentsdifferent graphical objects on the display screen of the device 1902.The graphical objects may be the different blocks/segments of thegraphical user interface, on which different operations corresponding tothe game being played, or the simulation being executed, can beperformed. Moreover, a point object (cursor) movable over the differentgraphical objects appears on the graphical user interface, forcontrolling the gaming or simulation operations. If the device 1902 doesnot have a touch-sensitive screen, the pointer object may becontrollable through a mouse, a joystick or a set of keyboard buttons,coupled to the device 1902. Furthermore, if the device 1902 has atouch-screen functionality incorporated therein, the same controllingoperations can also be performed by swiping or tapping/clicking throughfingers or any display sensitive item, like any other organ/pen/pencil.

Another database 1980 serves as a back-end database for the gaming orsimulation server 1910. As the user of the device 1902 starts playingthe game, or executing the simulation, typical actions and gesturesperformed by the user, are recorded in the back-end server 1980.Specifically, such actions are interpreted through the gaming orsimulation server 1910, and are sent as messages to the back-end sever1980, which eventually maintains a backup for the played game orexecuted simulation. Such messages can be in the form of data packagessent over an Internet connection through which the device 1902 isconnected to the server 1910, or any other wireless or wired connectionconnecting the device 1902 to the server 1910. Typical elements of suchmessages for maintaining a back end for the game or simulation, mayinclude a header, a payload and a checksum. The checksum can be afunction of the payload, or it may be a unique user identifier, like theusername, and so forth. The advantage of including the checksum inback-end maintaining message, is the possibility of avoiding prospectivefrauds while playing the game, or corruption in a simulation which couldadversely influence results generated by the simulation. The back-endmessages received by the server 1910 are also sent to the otherdatabases 1920 and 1930 of the server 1910. In these databases, theseback-end messages are used to maintain a continuous logic representingthe status of the game or simulation, for example, the exact score ofthe player with time, and the stage of the game that the player hasalready reached. With a continuous receipt of the back-end messages bythe databases 1920 and 1930, a regular updating of the game orsimulation status is implemented within the server databases 1910 and1920, eventually, with time. This ensures facilitating the resumption ofthe last status of the game or simulation, in a case of the device 1910unexpectedly shutting down, the user changes the gaming or simulationterminal or intentionally quits playing or executing the simulation fora certain period, and logs in at some other time.

Although only two servers 1910 and 1940 have been shown, there can bemultiple gaming or simulation servers coordinating with, and, connectedto each other, for implementing the gaming or simulation environment inaccordance with the present disclosure. Moreover, the environment, asillustrated in FIG. 16, is capable of being implemented as a thin clientgame or simulation, wherein a part of the gaming logic, or thesimulation logic, may be stored in any of the servers 1910 and 1940, anda part of it may be stored in the gaming or simulation terminal. Thedepicted environment also supports a thick client game or simulation,wherein the entire gaming logic, or simulation logic, may be stored inthe gaming or simulation terminal. Furthermore, the game can becompletely web-based too, wherein most of the gaming logic or simulationlogic may be stored in any of the servers 1910 or 1940. The presentinvention is optionally implemented via a cloud-computinginfrastructure.

Although, the gaming or simulation system implementable through theillustrated gaming or simulation environment, has been explained in thecase when a single user logs on to any of the electronic devices 1902,1904, 1906 or 1908, the same environment is capable of supportingmultiuser gaming or simulation, wherein different users may log onthrough different electronic devices, and synchronize with each other byconnecting to the common servers 1910 and 1940 through suitablenetworks, and share a common graphical user interface representing theongoing game or simulation, for example a United Nations famine reliefprogramme. In such embodiments, the graphical user interface rendered onthe display screens of the different electronic devices, is regularlyupdated, concurrently, through the logic data stored in the databases1920 and 1930 of the gaming or simulation servers, at the back-end.

In the foregoing, pressure applied by a given user to a touch-screen isbeneficially determined by one or more pressure-sensitive transducersintegrated into the touch-screen. However, certain contemporarytouch-screens operate only on a binary basis, namely either there iscontact or no contact with a given area of the touch-screen. In suchtouch-screens, pressure applied by the given user can be determined byan area of neighbouring spatially contiguous sensing points on thescreen which substantially simultaneously experience a contact beingmade by the given user. Thus, progressively more spatially contiguoussensing points are substantially simultaneously in contact state asprogressively more pressure is applied due to elastic deformation ofbiological tissue of the given user's finger tips. A similar pressuresensing functionality can be achieved when the given user employs apointing device having an elastically deformable end to contact onto thetouch-screen to control a game or a simulation, or to enter commands forcontrolling a real technical facility.

Beneficially, when a game or simulation is implemented as described inthe foregoing and the given user exits from the game or simulation, forexample for resumption at a later time, parameters describing a state ofthe game or simulation at an instant of exiting from the game arebeneficially stored in data memory, so that the state of the game orsimulation can be restored again at resumption of the game orsimulation.

Modifications to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoingare possible without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”,“comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used todescribe and claim the present invention are intended to be construed ina non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components orelements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to thesingular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. Numeralsincluded within parentheses in the accompanying claims are intended toassist understanding of the claims and should not be construed in anyway to limit subject matter claimed by these claims.

1. An electronic device comprising: a display screen; and a computinghardware configured to execute a software product, wherein executing thesoftware product generates and renders a graphical user interface on thedisplay screen, the graphical user interface being configured tofacilitate user interaction, the computing hardware, graphical userinterface and the software product being implemented on a gaming system,the computer hardware being configured to: present one or moreselectable graphical objects on the graphical user interface; enable aselection of one or more of the selectable graphical objects; generate amenu list on the graphical user interface upon selection of one of theselectable graphical objects, the menu list comprising one or moreselectable options; detect a selection of one of the selectable optionsfrom the menu list; detect a substantially continuous selection of areasalong a path on the graphical user interface, wherein the substantiallycontinuous selection comprises detecting a swipe motion over thegraphical user interface; and execute an action corresponding to theselected option in each area along the path on the graphical userinterface, wherein the gaming system comprises a farming game, theselectable graphical objects of the graphical user interface comprisedifferent spatial regions of a farming environment in which one or morecrops are grown, and wherein the selectable options in the menu list aredifferent farming tools.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, whereindetecting the substantially continuous selection comprises detecting atrack of a cursor over the graphical user interface.
 3. The electronicdevice of claim 1, further comprising a user input interface renderedover the graphical user interface, the user input interface beingconfigured to detect an input corresponding to moving a pointer object,clicking or tapping the pointer object, or swiping a touch sensitiveobject over the graphical user interface.
 4. The electronic device ofclaim 1, the computing hardware being configured to continuously applythe selected option to a portion of a graphical object in each areaalong the path in response to detecting a swipe action of a touchsensitive object over the portion of the graphical object.
 5. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the computing hardware isconfigured to detect an end of the substantially continuous selection,terminate the action, and remove a visual indicator of the selectedoption from the graphical user interface.
 6. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the computing hardware is configured to detect a speedof the substantially continuous selection of the one or more areas alongthe path; and execute the action corresponding to the selected option ata rapidity that is dependent at least partially on the speed of thesubstantially continuous selection of the one or more areas along thepath.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the graphical userinterface is a touch-sensitive screen, and a user interface isimplemented on the touch-sensitive screen as a tactile surface of thetouch-sensitive screen.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein thecomputing hardware is configured to disable the execution of the actioncorresponding to the selected option, in response to detecting atermination of the substantially continuous selection of one or moreareas along a path on the graphical user interface.
 9. The electronicdevice of claim 1, comprising a database for continuously recording andupdating the change in status of the one or more graphical objects, thesoftware product being coupled to the database and being configured toresume the status of the one or more graphical objects to their lastupdated status in the database, in case of interruptions in the operablestate of the graphical user interface.
 10. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic device is connected to a server througha network, the graphical user interface being generated temporallyconcurrently on a plurality of electronic devices to facilitate aplurality of users' interaction with the graphical user interface,wherein each of the graphical user interfaces generated on the pluralityof electronic devices are coordinated through the server and updatedconcurrently on the plurality of electronic devices with time.
 11. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises adesktop computer, a laptop computer, an iPad, or a smart phone,including an iPhone®, an Android® phone or a Symbian® phone.
 12. Amethod of facilitating user interactions with a graphical userinterface, the graphical interface being generated and rendered on thedisplay of an electronic device, by executing a software product on acomputing hardware of the electronic device, the computing hardware,graphical user interface and the software product being implemented on agaming system, the method comprising: rendering one or graphical objectswithin the graphical user interface; detecting a selection of one ormore of the one or more graphical object; rendering a menu listcontaining a set of selectable options, each selectable optioncorresponding to an effect to be applied to a portion of a specificgraphical object, or to one or more of the one or more graphicalobjects; detecting a selection of one of the selectable options;detecting a substantially continuous selection of areas of the graphicaluser interface along a path by detecting a swipe motion over thegraphical user interface; and applying the effect corresponding to theselected option to a portion of a specific graphical object, or to oneor more graphical objects corresponding to the path, wherein the gamingsystem comprises a farming game, the selectable graphical objects of thegraphical user interface comprise different spatial regions of a farmingenvironment in which one or more crops are grown, and wherein theselectable options in the menu list are different farming tools.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, comprising configuring the graphical user interfaceto continue to apply the effect corresponding to the selected optionduring a time of detection of the substantially continuous selection ofareas of the graphical user interface along the path to remove theselected option when the substantial continuous selection is terminated.14. The method of claim 12, comprising continuously recording andupdating a change in status of the one or more graphical objects,coupling the software product to a database, and resuming the status ofone or more graphical objects to their last updated status in thedatabase, in case of interruptions in the operations of the graphicaluser interface.
 15. The method of claim 12, comprising: connecting aplurality of electronic devices to a server through a network;generating the graphical user interface temporally concurrently on thedisplays of each of the electronic devices; coordinating a plurality ofgraphical user interfaces through the server, and updating themconcurrently with time, to facilitate multiple users' interaction andcoordination with the graphical user interfaces.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein the graphical user intefaces comprises a gaming system, themethod being implemented to facilitate an online multiplayer gamingsystem.
 17. A software product recorded on a machine readable datastorage medium, the software product being executable on the computinghardware of a computing device, for implementing a method according toclaim 12.